SUSSEX COUNTY BOWLS - MEN’S SECTION

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP AND COMPETITION RULES

a. Eligibility, Conduct & Obligations

(i) The Competitions shall be confined to any clubs who are member clubs of the Association in accordance with Sussex County Bowls - Men’s Section - Constitution Section 3 – MEMBERSHIP.
(ii) Every competitor must be a bona-fide member of the club he represents and shall not allow his name to be submitted for more than one club in any one year in the Competitions.
1. a) Every club must submit to the County Secretary prior to 30th April in each year, a full list of male members and updates to that list shall be notified as additional members join.
2. b) Any player who participates in any Competition who has not been so notified to the County Secretary will be deemed an ineligible player and relevant penalties applied.
(iii) A player can represent only one club in County Competitions in any one year, except that the Male Club Champion of the immediate past season may enter the Champion of Champions competition from the Club to which he belonged when he won the Championship.
(iv) In all Team events, other than the Under 25 Pairs, all players MUST come from the same Club and must represent the same Club from which all other National Championship events have been entered. Any team which includes an ineligible player will be disqualified, and their opponents will progress to the next round.
(v) Players entering the local heats of County and National Competitions must only do so, with the express intention of attending the County, Home Counties and the National Finals if they qualify. Players who qualify and do not attend the Finals may be subject to disciplinary action.
1. (a) If for a legitimate reason a player is unable to attend for a match being played at any stage of the Competition, from local heats right through to and including at the National Championships – then he must ensure that the Competition Secretary or County Secretary – is notified at the earliest possible opportunityofthereasonswhyheisunabletoattend. Hisopponentmustalsobenotifiedinsufficient time to avoid the opponent from travelling unnecessarily.
2. (b) It is the responsibility of the player to ensure that one of the above officers - and his opponent - have received this information and the fact that an email has been sent or a message left on an answerphone is not deemed sufficient. The player must obtain confirmation that the information has been received.
3. (c) If a player does not attend and has failed to ensure that the reasons for his non-attendance has been received by one of the above two officers, or if his reason for non-attendance is not considered acceptable, in such circumstances he may be barred from entering in future years that County and National Competition or in extreme cases all County and National Competitions under the auspices of Sussex County Bowls for a period of up to three years commencing on the date of notification. In a "play by date" competition, failure to contact an opponent, or failure to respond to a contact, resulting in the tie not being played by the given date, shall be considered as non- attendance within this and succeeding clauses. If the fault of the player in not attending, is that of his Club, then the player shall not be penalised.
4. (d) Prior to any decision being made, the player or Club shall be asked for an explanation by the person responsible for managing that competition. Any explanations provided, will then be considered with the basic facts of the situation by the Competition Secretary or in his absence the Secretary andadecisionwillbegiveninwriting. Anyappealarising,concerningabanforfutureyears,should be made within fourteen days of the decision being notified to the player and Club involved, and will be dealt with through the Secretary, as an emergency matter as defined in the Men’s Section Constitution Section 5 (e).
(vi) DRESS. See Section 5A below for the Dress Code for all stages of County Competitions.

b. Provisions

(i) All Competitions shall be played under the Laws of the International Bowling Board and the Rules and Regulations of Bowls England, except where otherwise provided by these rules and shall be under the management of the Executive Committee of the Sussex County Bowls (Men’s Section).
(ii) The green shall be in accordance with the current Laws of the Game, as adopted by the World Bowls Board, and in accordance with the Bye-Laws currently laid down by Bowls England.
(iii) Two trial ends will be allowed in all Competitions.
(iv) On the day of a Competition or tie no player shall play on the rink before such Competition starts, except in the trial ends.
(v) Bowls used to be in accordance with the "Laws of the Game".
(vi) Notification of intention to enter, accompanied by the entrance fees, must reach the Divisional Competition Secretary not later than 31st October in the year prior to the competition. No club or member thereof shall take part in any of these Competitions until the Annual Subscription and entrance fees have been paid.
(vii) The start time for all Competitions shall be 6 pm, other than for the Under 25 Pairs which shall have a start time of 7pm), unless mutually agreed otherwise by both players/teams, or as notified by the organiser for any ‘Single day Competitions’. The standard 30 minutes ‘grace time’ shall be allowed.
(viii) When any match reaches a stage where it is no longer possible for one of the players to win, the match shall be terminated.
(ix) For all competitions that are initially under the control of this County, The ‘Challenger’ is defined as the first named (or topmost) player or team, of any pair of names/teams on any draw sheet for County/National Competitions. The second named is defined as the ‘Opponent’.
(x) Draw for Rinks
It is a requirement of World Bowls and Bowls England that players undertake a draw for rinks. Laws of the

Sport of Bowls - para 3. See Appendix 5

c. Questions and Disputes

(i) Any question or dispute concerning competitions shall initially be made to either the relevant Divisional or County Competition Secretary, by one of the players concerned. Where related to the result of a match played, the dispute shall be lodged on the day of the disputed result, and confirmed in writing by email to both the Divisional and the County Competition Secretary, either by the player concerned or through one of the two nominated email contacts for his club, by mid-day of the following day. The written dispute shall include a clear statement of the point at issue together with a copy of any documentary evidence that may exist.
(ii) The County Competition Secretary shall determine all questions and disputes that may arise and which do not come within the scope of the Umpire's duties. On disputes which could involve the reinstatement of a defeated appellant, the Competition Secretary shall inform his decision to the appellant, or to the club email contact, by email without undue delay.
(iii) Any appeal against the Competition Secretary's decision shall be lodged to the County Secretary (with copy to the Competition Secretary) within 48 hours of the disputed decision being issued. The club or competitor lodging the appeal must provide full reasons and basis of the dispute, together with a deposit in the sum of £10 which will be forfeited should the application be considered groundless, frivolous or vexatious.

Divisions
1. i) The County shall be divided into four Divisions, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
2. ii) A Divisional Competition Secretary, for each division, shall be elected at the AGM.
3. iii) The Divisional Competition Secretaries shall be responsible to the Hon. Competition Secretary.
Championship Format

FIXED DATE - COMPETITIONS

See Rule G. re Substitutions in the Pairs, Triples and Fours Championships.

(i) SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Each game shall consist of 21 shots (4 bowls each player). The winner will hold the Towner Cup and receive a commemorative blazer flash. His club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runner-up will hold the Hollis Cup.
(ii) PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP

Each game shall consist of 21 ends (4 bowls each player). In the event of a tie an extra end must be played, the shots of this end to count in the final score. The winners will hold the John Carter Cup and each receive a commemorative blazer flash. Their club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runners-up will hold the two Rowland Cups.
(iii) TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Each game shall consist of 18 ends (3 bowls each player). In the event of a tie an extra end must be played, the shots of this end to count in the final score. The winners will hold the Madeira Cup and each receive a commemorative blazer flash. Their club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runners-up will hold the Herbert Cup.
(iv) FOURS CHAMPIONSHIP

Each game shall consist of 21 ends (2 bowls each player). In the event of a tie an extra end must be played, the shots of this end to count in the final score. The winners will hold the George Clark Cup and each receive a commemorative blazer flash. Their club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runners-up will hold the Galloway Cup.
(v) 2 WOOD SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Each game shall consist of 21 ends (2 woods each player). The winner will hold the Wadey and Wilkins Trophy and receive a commemorative blazer flash. His Club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runner up will hold the Runners Up Trophy.
(vi) SINGLES (UNBADGED) COMPETITION

Entry is open to any member of an affiliated Club who is not entitled to wear any full outdoor County Blazer badge. Each game shall consist of 21 shots (4 bowls each player). The winner will hold the Richfield Cup. The winner will receive a commemorative blazer flash. His club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runner up will hold the Spires Rose Bowl.
(vii) DOUBLE FOURS COMPETITION (The Abergavenny Cup)

Each club shall be represented by eight players, who may be substituted in different rounds by players of the same club. Except in the Final, one Four shall play at home and one Four on the opponents green. Each game shall consist of 21 ends (2 bowls each player), but an extra end must be played on the green of the Challenger with a toss of a coin to decide who shall take the mat. The shots of this end to count in the event of a tie in the game proper. The winning club will hold the Abergavenny Cup and receive a commemorative pennant. The runners up will hold the Tithe Barn Cup.

See separate rule concerning shortage of players.

Any Club that withdraws from the Competition shall be barred from entering in the following season - unless it is decided that there are exceptional circumstances.

PLAY BY DATE - COMPETITIONS

In the following Competitions the following arrangements will apply:

(i) In the preliminary/first round – WHERE THIS IS THE FIRST GAME – the challenger must contact his opponent at least two weeks before the closing date of the round, offering three dates, one of which must be a Saturday or Sunday.
(ii) For all subsequent rounds, the ‘Challenger, must offer to his opponent – within three days – after the closing date for the previous round - three dates, one of which must be a Saturday or Sunday.
(iii) If the ‘Challenger’ fails to contact the Opponent and take action as described in (i) or (ii) above, then the opponent becomes the ‘Challenger’ and assumes home advantage. He is required to offer - within a further three days of either of the dates as quoted above - three dates, one of which must be a Saturday or Sunday, and at the same time shall inform the Competition Secretary in charge of that competition that he is invoking this rule, and has accepted the responsibilities of now being the challenger.
(iv) If the ‘Challenger’, or an opponent either when he is the opponent or when if he subsequently becomes the ‘Challenger’, is unable to make contact with the opponent within the specified time limits, he MUST attempt contact through the opponents Club Secretary and notify the Competition Secretary or DCS, of his inability to contact the opponent in order to avoid being penalised as in (v) or (vi) below.
(v) Failure by an ‘opponent’ (either original or ‘challenger’ who subsequently becomes the opponent due to default as in (iii) above), to accept one of the three dates offered, within 48 hours of contact being made, shall result in the current ‘Challenger’ going through to the next round.
(vi) If neither player makes contact to offer dates then both players will be disqualified.

NB: Whilst messages left on answerphone or emails sent are an acceptable means to attempt contact they are not ‘proof of contact’, so if no reply is received from such methods, then actual verbal contact with the player must be made and if such contact cannot be made the player’s Club Secretary must be approached. This will enable ’proof’ that an attempt has been made to contact the opponent.

(v) UNDER 25’s SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP

Open to all players who have not attained the age of 25 on 1st April in the year in which the Championship is held. The format will be first player to 21 shots using 4 bowls. The winner will hold the Gordon Cummings Cup and receive a commemorative blazer flash. His club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runner-up will hold the Harry Gould Cup.
(vi) UNDER 25’s PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP

Open to all players who have not attained the age of 25 on 1st April in the year in which the Championship is held. The format will be 18 ENDS using THREE bowls. The winners will hold the Sussex County Bowls Under 25 Pairs Cup and receive a commemorative blazer flash. His club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runner-up will hold the Sussex County Bowls Under 25 Pairs Runners Up Cup. . (Amended AGM 7 Dec 20)

Bowls England ‘recommend’ that the start time for the Junior Pairs will be no earlier than 7pm on a weekday (unless mutually agreed otherwise). The two players, may be from different Clubs, but they must both be affiliated to Clubs within the same County and have entered all other National Championship events from the same County.
(vii) CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS COMPETITION

Open to the male club champion of the immediate past season. No substitute will be permitted. The winner will receive a commemorative blazer flash. The winner will hold the L.S. Goodger Trophy for one year. His club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runner-up will hold the A & F Trophy. The format of play is first to 21 shots (4 bowls each).
(viii) SENIOR FOURS CHAMPIONSHIP

Open to all players who have attained the age of 55 on 1st April in the year in which the Championship is held. Each game shall consist of 18 ends (2 bowls each player). In the event of a tie an extra end must be played, the shots of this end to count in the final score. The winners will hold the Past Presidents Cup and each receive a commemorative blazer flash. Their club will receive a commemorative pennant. The runners- up will hold the Past Presidents Salver.

f. Bowls England National Championships and Home Counties Bowls Association Championships

Winners of Singles, 2 Wood Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours, Senior Fours, and Under 25’s Singles and Pairs, will represent the County at the Bowls England National Championships and with the Exception of the Senior Fours, Two Wood Singles and Under 25 Pairs in the Home Counties Bowling Association Championships.

Additionally, the losing Finalists in the Singles, 2 Wood Singles, Pairs, Triples and Fours will represent the County at the Bowls England National Championships. The winner of the Under 25’s Singles will represent the County in the Bowls England National Junior Singles Regional finals and beyond.

g. The Draw

The County Competition Secretary shall be responsible for making the Draw by computer and shall fix dates for playing of the ties. The Draw for all Competitions will be published on the County website; winners will be notified of their next opponents through club Honorary Secretaries and/or direct by e-mail.

(i) Preliminary Stage

(a) Each Division shall be drawn together and play through until the last 2 in each of the four Divisions for all Senior Competitions, unless due to numbers it is necessary to combine two adjacent Divisions. For Junior Competitions the draw shall be countywide unless there are sufficient numbers to justify any divisional split. . (Amended AGM 7 Dec 20)

(b) The Challenger shall play on his own or Opponent's green, unless mutually agreed to play on a neutral green.
(c) No extension beyond the dates fixed will be allowed except as specifically allowed elsewhere in these rules but competitors may mutually agree to play their ties before the date and times fixed and inform the appropriate Divisional Competition Secretary.
(d) The Challenger must pay green fees, if any, except in the Double Fours Competition where the Rink playing on own green shall pay the fees, if any, of the visiting rink.
(e) If the Draw provides a club with more home ties on a due date than there are home rinks available, every effort shall be made by the club’s committee to bring forward the time and/or date of enough ties to resolve the overcrowding, as provided for in (a) above. If the club's committee decides that this is not practicable, then and only then it shall conduct a draw to allot the home ties. The excess ties shall then be played FIRSTLY (i) on a neutral green or greens or SECONDLY (ii) on the Opponent's green. It shall be the responsibility, in these circumstances, for the home club to make all necessary arrangements and to keep the competitors informed. Home green priority should be offered to players from the same club who are drawn against each other.
(f) Any Competition where there are only three entries will be played as a ‘round robin’ with all teams/players playing one another on neutral greens, the Competition Secretary shall set the time and place for matches. Each game in the round robin shall be as defined for that competition. If a game is tied at the end of the fixed number of ends that result will stand: no extra end will be played. Teams will be drawn as A/B/C. The first match will be team A v Team B with the loser playing Team C in the second match. The final game will be team C playing the winner of the first game.

Two points will be awarded for a win and 1 point each for a draw. The winner will be the team/player with the highest number of points and if points are equal then the greatest shot difference shall decide. If teams are still tied the greatest number of ends won will decide. If teams are still equal then a playoff shall be arranged. (Added AGM 7 Dec 20)

(ii) Final Stage

The four Divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be drawn together and with the exception of the Double Fours Competition will play on greens appointed by the County Competition Secretary, in the case of the Double Fours Competition, if it is mutually agreed by the clubs concerned, the Quarter and Semi- Finals may be played on a green appointed by the County Competition Secretary.

h. Non Arrival, Delays and Re-arrangement

(i) Non-arrival - Delay

If a party (individual, team, or in the case of the Double Fours, all players in each four) is/are not ready to play within 30 minutes after the time fixed for the tie, the other party may claim a walk-over and the offending party not having reported his non-appearance to either his opponent or his Divisional Competition Secretary prior to the tie, and will be subject to action as defined elsewhere in these Rules. The claim for a walk-over must be made to the Divisional Competition Secretary as soon as possible after the period of grace has expired on the evening the tie was due to take place.
(ii) Unfinished games
In a side game only the game(s) that are unable to be completed shall be stopped, other games shall continue if the conditions allow.
(iii) Any game that is unable to be played to it’s completion (unfinished game) will recommence from the last completed end, unless either team concedes the match - and will be played as detailed below. If the Green Ranger or Grounds man declares the green fit for play, all games thereon must be played on the date and competitors refusing to play will be scratched.
(iv) All unfinished or unplayed games (owing to climatic conditions) - or outside interference) to be played on the same green two days later than the date originally fixed by the committee, unless mutually agreed upon to play previously. Where games have been interupted and therefore unfinished, by reason of outside interference, the teams may mutually agree, or the Competition Secretary may decree, that the match shall be played at an alternative venue. If any of the competitors in a postponed match are unable to play within two days because of involvement in other County Competitions the match must be played at 6.00 pm on the next weekday evening on which all competitors are free from County Competition commitments, and if none available, at 10.00am on the next Saturday. If either team or player declines to play on the next available date the other team or player shall receive a walkover.

(v) Trial ends are allowed in all postponed games An extension of time will be allowed to any competitor or competitors engaged in County Competitions who may be selected to represent their country in any event in Great Britain, which may bring honour to the County and to competitors selected to play in Middleton Cup matches subject to the approval of the Competition Secretary or Divisional Competition Secretaries. This extension does not apply to involvement in the County Double Fours Competition as that Competition allows for unlimited substitution. The Divisional Competition Secretary shall immediately fix a date (mutually agreed if possible) to play off the postponed tie or ties in the Competition or Competitions.

Substitutes
1. (i) In Pairs, Triples and Fours, the players taking part in the first game shall constitute the team and shall normally play together throughout the Championship.
2. (ii) One additional, and the same player, may be used as a substitute at any time provided he has not already played in the Championship. He may play in any position.
3. (iii) The named entrant of a team cannot be a member or substitute of any other team in the same Championship.
4. (iv) The Double Fours Competition allows for unlimited substitute players (who must be registered members of the Club) to be used, including in a game that was unable to be completed on the original date and is required to be completed on another date.
5. (v) If a substitute is required during a game then the rules in the Laws of the Sport of Bowls apply but only substitutes who are qualified as above may be used.
Finals Day
1. (i) Finals of all SCB (Men’s Section) Championships and Competitions will be played on a Finals Day(s) in the last two weeks of July, (including any third/fourth place playoff required regarding qualification for the National Finals) , the venue to be at the discretion of the President (Men’s Section).
2. (ii) If for religious reasons a finalist objects to playing on a particular day, other arrangements can be made.
Notification of Results
1. (i) Results of each round MUST be notified – by the winning team/player - by telephone, e-mail or text SMS message as soon as possible – THE SAME EVENING after completion of the game - to the Divisional Competition Secretary (DCS) - for all competitions other than the Under 25’s Competitions where they are to be notified direct to the County Competition Secretary.
2. (ii) If the result IS submitted by email or text SMS message the names of the team members of both teams, who took part in the match MUST ALSO BE INCLUDED and THE SIGNED RESULT CARD FOR THE MATCH must be retained, UNTIL AFTER FINALS DAY, for future reference in case of a query.
3. (iii) If the result of the match and the full details of team members who took part in the match, ARE NOT submitted by email or text SMS message - then a scanned copy of the scorecards or the score cards themselves, signed by both teams MUST BE in the possession of the Competition Secretary (U25’s) or the Divisional Competition Secretary within 24 hours. See N.B. below re ‘loss of cards’.
4. (iv) Failure by a player/team to notify the result within the timescale as required in sub para (i) above - will on the first occasion result in the player/team being reminded of their responsibility and a second failure is liable to result in disqualification.
5. (v) Failure by a player/team to ensure that the DCS is in possession of the names of players who took part in a match to enable a check of eligibility to be carried out - prior to the next round – is liable to result in disqualification.

(vI) Content of Scorecards: Scorecards MUST BE completed by players at the same end of the rink and must be checked and agreed against one another and the scoreboard-at regular intervals. On completion of the match they MUST BE signed by both players/teams after the total shots and result have been agreed. It is the responsibility of the players to ensure that the correct number of ends was played and the score recorded is correct - and the score and number of ends - as recorded on the cards will be final result and will determine the winning player/team - unless in exceptional circumstances the Emergency Committee decide otherwise.

(vii) Where cards have been retained by the winning team/player and where a scanned copy has not been forwarded to the Competition Secretary (or DCS) - a request is received from the Competition Secretary that those cards be forwarded to him - then arrangements MUST be made for those cards to be in the possession of the Competition Secretary within 48 hours of the request. Any team/player that fails to comply with such a request is liable to be disqualified.

NB: It is the responsibility of the team/player to ensure that result cards reach the Comp. Sec. or DCS as and when required and ‘lost in the post’ WILL NOT be accepted as a reason for non-compliance. CARDS CAN BE FORWARDED AS A SCANNED COPY OR ARRANGMENTS MADE FOR THEM TO BE DELIVERED.

l. Markers and Umpires

The challengers to be responsible for appointing Markers in the early stages of the Singles competitions. In the Final Stages the County Competition Secretary/County Umpire Co-ordinator will appoint Markers and Umpires.

Trophies

The Trophies will be presented to the winners on County Finals Day, to be held until they are returned to the County Competition Secretary by the 30th June the following year - at the latest. If on occasions it is necessary for the Competition Secretary, or the Honorary Secretary to request in writing for the early return of Trophies, they shall be returned without delay, and in all cases, no later than 30 days after the request is made. A satisfactory guarantee must be given to the Association that they will be kept in the clubhouse or the home of a committee member of Sussex County Bowls or of a cup holder in accordance with the terms of Sussex County Bowls Insurance Policy and returned in good order and condition appropriately engraved. (Amended AGM 3 Dec 18)
Entrance Fees

The entrance fees for the County Championships and Competitions shall be determined annually by the Executive Committee.
Alteration of Rules

Alterations of or additions to all or any of the foregoing Rules shall be made only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose. Written notice of the terms of the proposed alterations must be sent to the Honorary Secretary not later than four weeks prior to the date of such meeting, and notice of such proposed alteration shall be sent to each Club with the notice convening the meeting.
Notification of Rules

It is the duty of every Club to ensure that each of its members is aware of these rules.

Documents:

C. Men's Section Competition Rules Feb 21.pdf